Finger web swimming aid

ABSTRACT

A finger web swimming aid embodying fingerstalls and web membranes molded to form one integral body therefrom, and wherein the web membranes are connected between side walls of each of the fingerstalls. The fingerstalls provide ends of each of tubular members allow for the first joint of each of the user&#39;s fingers to expose therefrom. Ribbed edges are configured on outer edges of each of the web membranes, which enhance strength and allow for easy removal thereof. Furthermore, a plurality of grooves are further defined on surfaces of each of the web membranes, and which provide the web membranes with a moderate degree of concavity, and functions in coordination with flexing of the fingers of the user. In particular, when necessary, easy removal of at least one finger of the three center fingers from the fingerstalls is effectuated, and which thereby facilitates manipulative movements therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a structural design of a finger webswimming aid, and more particularly to the finger web swimming aid thatprovides for easy wearing on fingers of a swimmer, thereby enabling theswimmer to realize enhancement to paddling motive force by means of webmembrane connections between side walls of fingerstalls, while stillmaintaining dexterity in movement of the fingers of the swimmer.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional web-fingered glove 10 (see FIG. 8) primary provides usagefor when swimming and diving, thereupon providing functionality similarto that of flippers by means of membranes 102 connected between each offingerstalls 101. Accordingly, upon a swimmer wearing the web-fingeredglove 10 on a hand, paddling motive force of the hand of the swimmer isthereby enhanced.

However, because of hindrance resulting from thickness of the webmembranes 102, and, moreover, because the fingerstalls 101 are of acomplete finger-type structure and fitted onto the fingers, therefore,upon a user wearing the web-fingered glove 10 on the hand, concertedmovement between the fingers is impeded thereof, moreover, hindrance indexterity of the fingertips results there because. Hence, when the userwishes to perform various movements underwater, the web-fingered gloves10 must be temporarily removed in order to benefit movement of thehands, and upon requiring assistance in swimming movement, theweb-fingered gloves 10 are put on again. The web-fingered gloves 10having such a mode of usage not only results in putting on and removingof the web-fingered gloves 10 time consuming, moreover, because theweb-fingered gloves 10 are made from water impermeable rubber material,after the gloves 10 have come in contact with water, a substantialfriction force between the rubber material and the hand results thereof,which makes putting on and removing of the gloves 10 extremelydifficult. Furthermore, when the swimmer is underwater and meets with anemergency situation, because the gloves 10 are difficult to readilyremove to allow the hands to cope with the emergency, therefore hiddenworries arise for the swimmer over misgivings concerning safety aspectof wearing the web-fingered gloves 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structuraldesign of a finger web swimming aid embodying two portions structured soas to comprise fingerstalls and web membranes molded to form oneintegral body therefrom, and wherein the web membranes are connectedbetween side walls of each of the fingerstalls. The fingerstalls providefor the fingers of a user to insert thereinto, and whereby ends of eachof tubular members of the fingerstalls allow for the first joint of eachof the fingers to expose therefrom. A plurality of grooves are furtherdefined on surfaces of each of the web membranes, whereby configurationof the grooves is such to provide the web membranes with a moderatedegree of concavity, thereby providing the web membranes with flexingfunctionality to function in coordination with flexing of the fingers ofthe user.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide the structuraldesign of the finger web swimming aid that enables, when necessary, atleast one finger of the three center fingers to be removed from thefingerstalls, and which thereby facilitates manipulative movementstherewith.

Yet another objective of the present invention Is to provide thestructural design of the finger web swimming aid having ribbed edgesconfigured on outer edges of openings of the tubular members of thefingerstalls, and, moreover, walls of the fingerstalls are adapted toassume a taper form extending from the ribbed edges and in direction ofextremity of the fingerstalls, thereby facilitating action of putting onand removing of the finger web swimming aid when in usage.

To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and thetechnological methods of the invention herein, the brief description ofthe drawings below is followed by the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevational schematic view according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional, structural schematic view according tothe present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional schematic view of a fingerstall accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional schematic view of a web membraneaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 4 accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the web membrane in a flexed stateaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a finger web in use according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a conventional web-fingered glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a structural design of a fingerweb swimming aid of the present invention primarily structured tocomprise fingerstalls 1 and web membranes 2 molded from soft rubbermaterial so as to form one integral body therefrom, and wherein:

The fingerstalls 1 provide tubular members for fingers to be placedthereinto, and ribbed edges 11 are configured on outer edges of openingsof the tubular members of the fingerstalls 1, moreover, walls of thefingerstalls 1 are adapted to assume a taper form extending from theribbed edges 11 and in direction of extremity of the fingerstalls 1 (seeFIG. 3). Furthermore, angle of each of the tubular members areconfigured to conform with angle of each finger of a user, and length ofeach of the fingerstalls 1 are configured so as to correspond withlength of each of the fingers of the user, and whereby first joint ofeach of the fingers of the user are exposed and protrude from anextremity of each of the fingerstalls 1 respectively when wearing thefinger web.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the web membranes 2 comprise sheetsconnected between side walls of each of the fingerstalls 1, and moldedso as to form an integral body therewith. Ribbed edges 21 are configuredon outer edges of each of the web membranes 2, and a plurality ofgrooves 22 are further defined on front and rear surfaces of each of theweb membranes 2, whereby configuration of the grooves 22 (see FIG. 6) issuch to provide the web membranes 2 with a moderate degree of concavity,thereby providing the web membranes 2 with flexing functionality tofunction in coordination with flexing of the fingers of the user.

According to aforementioned structural members, the fingerstalls 1 areso deployed such that an angle of each of the fingerstalls 1 correspondswith an angle of each finger of the user; moreover, the web membranes 2are connected between each of the fingerstalls 1, and molded so as toform one integral body therewith. Hence, when a swimmer wears the fingerweb on the fingers, such a structural assembly realizes enhancement topaddling motive force of the hand of the swimmer.

Referring to FIG. 7, which shows the hand wearing the finger webswimming aid of the present invention, wherein length of each of thefingerstalls 1 are configured so as to correspond with length of each ofthe fingers of the user, moreover, walls of each of the fingerstalls 1assume a taper form, and whereby first joint of an extremity of each ofthe fingers of the user are exposed and protrude from each of thefingerstalls 1 respectively when wearing the finger web. Hence, when theuser is wearing the finger web of the present invention, the user isstill able to exploit dexterity of the fingertips to carry out variousmanipulative actions (for instance, to cock a water jet, unfastenobjects, and so on.)

In addition, the plurality of grooves 22 defined on the front and rearsurfaces of each of the web membrane 2 assume a radiating form thatoutwardly extends from junctures between the fingers as center to theouter edges of the web membranes 2, wherewith, when spreading apart andmerging together the fingers, enables the membrane surfaces of the webmembrane 2 to realize easier coordinative and dexterous flexingtherewith (see FIG. 6). In addition, because thickness of portion of theweb membranes 2 having the grooves defined thereat is relativelythinner, therefore the ribbed edges 21 configured on the outer edges ofthe web membranes 2 increases strength of the entire web membranes 2therewith, and thus the web membranes 2 will not easily tear apart atthe portions having the grooves 22 defined.

Furthermore, during actual usage of the finger web of the presentinvention, a clearance A results (see FIG. 7) between each of the webmembranes 2 and the juncture between each of the fingers, and wherebyformation of the clearances A ensures resistance against stroking waterby the hands is not too great. After the user has worn the finger webswimming aid for a prolonged length of time, because of not having tobear too great a resistance against stroking the water, the user willnot experience fatigue and aching in the arms. Furthermore, because ofthe ribbed edges 11 configured on outer edges of the openings of lowerends of each of the tubular members, in general usage, openings of eachof the fingerstalls 1 can employ functionality of the ribbed edges 11 toafford a propped open state, thereby facilitating action of putting onand removing the finger web swimming aid when in usage.

In conclusion, the structural design of the finger web swimming aidassuredly achieves unhindered free dexterous movement of the fingerswhen the user wears the finger web swimming aid, and, moreover, achievesanticipated functionality to assist propelling the swimmer forward.Hence, advancement in effectiveness has been realized, moreover, meansto accomplish such are of an innovative nature, and which conform toimportant conditions required of a new model. Accordingly, anapplication for a new patent is proposed herein.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinis merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that awide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A finger web swimming aid for a plurality of fingersof a user comprising: a) a plurality of fingerstalls, each of theplurality of fingerstalls is a tubular member having a first ribbed edgeon a first end thereof and an outer periphery tapering inwardly from thefirst end toward a second end thereof, each of the plurality offingerstalls having one of the plurality of fingers of the user insertedtherein, a first joint of one of the plurality of fingers protrudingoutwardly from the second end of each of the plurality of fingerstalls;and b) a plurality of web membranes, one of the plurality of webmembranes is located between two adjacent fingerstalls of the pluralityof fingerstalls, each of the plurality of web membranes having: i) asecond ribbed edge located between the second end of two adjacentfingerstalls of the plurality of fingerstalls; ii) a plurality of firstgrooves formed on a first surface; and iii) a plurality of secondgrooves formed on a second surface opposite the first surface, one ofthe plurality of first grooves aligning with each of the plurality ofsecond grooves, wherein the plurality of fingerstalls are integrallyformed with the plurality of web membranes.
 4. The finger web swimmingaid according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of fingerstalls and theplurality of web membranes are molded from a soft rubber material. 5.The finger web swimming aid according to claim 3, wherein the pluralityof first grooves and the plurality of second grooves radiate outwardlyfrom a first edge to a second edge of each of the plurality of webmembranes.